Taunton officers, chief sued over alleged attack

TAUNTON, Mass. — A man is suing several members of the Taunton Police Department along with the city after an allegedly being assaulted by an officer.

The assault from the complaint happened June 1, 2014 at the police station's booking room. Officer Robert Kramer and arrested the plaintiff, Joseph O’Brien, for disorderly conduct, a charge that the complaint said was later dismissed.

In the booking rom, the suit alleges O’Brien was complying with Kramer’s instructions, when the officer “yanked Mr. O’Brien’s arm around his neck, pushed him into a counter, and eventually pulled him to the ground. With assistance from Defendants Ralph Schlageter and Jeffrey Martin, Defendant Kramer gave Mr. O’Brien several knee strikes to his head, causing a concussion.” It was caught on the booking room camera.

Police Chief Edward Walsh hired an outside expert to investigate the incident, after the video went public, says the complaint. It says that the first investigator found that Kramer’s use of force was unreasonable, and that then Walsh asked for a second opinion. The second investigator agreed that Kramer used unreasonable force, says the complaint. The complaint said that both specifically found that the knee strikes were unreasonable.

The suit says the chief hired a third investigator, who said that Kramer’s actions were appropriate. At that point, citing a “conflict among the experts,” Walsh found that Kramer’s use of force was proper and declined to impose discipline, says the suit.

The suit says that Kramer has a reputation among the criminal defense bar, the community and within the department as “an abusive and violent police officer.”

Detective Kramer has been the subject of at least five civilian complaints of excessive force since 2009, including two lawsuits for civil rights violations, according to the lawsuit.

Due the Kramer’s actions, O’Brien suffered physical, emotional, and financial injuries, says the lawsuit. It says he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, emotional distress and anxiety.

Kramer, Walsh, Ralph Schlageter and Jeffrey Martin and the city of Taunton are all listed as defendants.

The civil rights lawsuit is asking for compensatory damages, punitive damages against Kramer and Walsh, attorneys fees and other relief the court deems necessary.

Cox Media Group